Jameis Winston would be a Top 5 pick in 2014

As a redshirt freshman, Florida State QB Jameis Winston does not meet NFL eligibility requirements after this season. He will have to wait until the spring of 2015 to enter the NFL Draft. But, let’s take a quick look at this year’s class and try to decipher where Winston would be drafted if he were available this April.

Five QBs are drafted in the first round of this week’s edition of the “absurdly early mock draft.” Of those five, it’s easy to argue only one is clearly a better quarterback prospect than Winston at this point: Teddy Bridgewater, a superior passer who possesses an advanced understanding of the game compared to Winston. The rest of the group, however, is very similar to Winston in age and room for growth.

Brett Hundley, Marcus Mariota and Johnny Manziel are only one year ahead of Winston. All of them are bursting with natural talent, but they all have room for improvement as NFL-caliber passers. If Winston were eligible for this year’s draft, he would be selected as the No. 4 overall pick by Tampa Bay.

Winston has a tremendous natural skill set, and he already shows signs of “advanced eyes” — he looks off the safety and checks down to his second or third options. Winston’s ceiling is a future No. 1 overall pick whenever he chooses to declare. It wouldn’t happen in this year’s class — both because of age restrictions… and the brilliance of Teddy Bridgewater.

On to this week’s mock draft, based on the projected order from the latest NFL standings:

1. JaguarsTeddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville

2. GiantsJadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina

3. SteelersJake Matthews, OT Texas A&M

4. Buccaneers
Brett Hundley, QB UCLA

5. Falcons
Anthony Barr, LB UCLA

6. Rams (via WASH)
Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson

7. Vikings
Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon

8. PanthersCyrus Kouandjio, OT Alabama

9. TexansJohnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M

10. RamsTaylor Lewan, OT Michigan

11. EaglesIfo Ekpre-Olomu, CB Oregon

12. BillsMarquis Lee, WR USC

13. RaidersMike Evans, WR Texas A&M

14. Chargers
Antonio Richardson, OT Tenn.

15. CowboysHa Ha Clinton-Dix, S Alabama

16. PackersCJ Mosley, LB Alabama

17. JetsKhalil Mack, LB Buffalo

18. CardinalsAustin Seferian-Jenkins, TE Wash.

19. DolphinsLache Seastrunk, RB Baylor

20. BearsLouis Nix III, DT Notre Dame

21. BengalsRyan Shazier, LB Ohio State

22. BrownsZach Mettenberger, QB LSU

23. RavensJordan Matthews, WR Vanderbilt

24. LionsLouchiez Purifoy, CB Florida

25. 49ers
Ra’Shede Hageman, DT Minnesota

26. TitansEric Ebron, TE North Carolina

27. PatriotsAnthony Johnson, DT LSU

28. SeahawksSeantrel Henderson, OT Miami

29. Browns (via IND)
Cedric Ogbuehi, OT Texas A&M

30. SaintsTravis Swanson, C Arkansas

31. ChiefsJason Verrett, CB TCU

32. Broncos
Vic Beasley, DE Clemson

Draft order was determined by current record, then point differential. In the case of similar point differential, the team with the fewer points scored was given the better draft slot.